PERTH (miningweekly.com) – A scoping study by ASX-listed Robust Resources into its Romang Island manganese project, in Indonesia, has placed a capital cost of between $8-million and $10-million on the project development.
Robust reported on Wednesday that the project would deliver about 250 000 t/y of manganese over a two- to three-year project life, generating gross revenue of between $50-million and $100-million.
Robust MD Gary Lewis said that while the project would not be the main value driver for the company, it was an important part of Robust’s strategy for an early, low-cost entry into production.
In mitigation of one of the key risks identified in the scoping study, Robust has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indonesian subsidiary of Asia Mineral Corporation, to provide ore to a proposed smelter being developed on the island of West Timor, which is in close proximity to Romang Island.
The MoU was designed to provide Robust with flexibility to potentially export high-grade ore in the early years of the manganese production, with a progressive transition to supply the smelters in later years.
“The positive manganese scoping study, the MoU and recent drilling results all point to the potential viability of the manganese project, and this will be confirmed in a feasibility study that has already started, and is due for completion later this year,” said Lewis.
The feasibility study, which was earmarked for completion by October, would include mineral resource estimates, mine processing and production plans, a project execution plan, logistic and transport infrastructure and the commercial evaluation of the project.